Movable convertor for the bass mechanism of an accordion



April 18, 1961 E. BALDONI 2,

MOVABLE CONVERTOR FOR THE BASS MECHANISM OF AN ACCORDION Filed April 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jirvenior April 18, 1961 E. BALDONI 2,979,980

MOVABLE CONVERTOR FOR THE BASS MECHANISM OF AN ACCORDION Filed April 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 18, 1961 E. BALDONI 2,979,980

MOVABLE CONVERTOR FOR THE BASS MECHANISM OF AN ACCORDION Filed April 23, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet. 3

%%M,M, W114 "g nrrym United States MOVABLE CONVERTOR FOR THE BASS MECHA- NISM OF AN ACCORDION Filed Apr. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 654,515

11 Claims. (Cl. 84-376) This invention concerns the improvements to an accordion mechanism particularly to a principal convertor mechanism that permits the disengaging of a part of the mechanism which when engaged simultaneously plays a predetermined group of notes that compose a chord. Upon putting the convertor into action, all chord buttons, when depressed, will play only some of the notes forming the chord hence only one note in a particular chord will be played.

An additional feature consists in attaching to the aforementioned converter mechanism with its main function of altering the chord structure, a secondary converter, which permits the disengaging of the bass notes from the connecting chord notes, in a way that upon depressing a base button plays only a single note.

An extra feature consists in the provision of a tension equalizer to equalize the force or tension required for the two convertor positions.

Prior to this invention, other disengaging convertors have been developed which provide a disengaging movement that operates in association with a limited number of chord buttons. These mechanisms incorporate a plurality of levers and operate in a manner such that in one of the selected positions one or more of these levers are rendered inoperative to emit only certain of the notes composing the chord.

The actuation of the levers in such prior mechanisms requires considerable force, and also such disengaging convertors made in this manner require for their function a muchv larger-asembly space. Because of this space requirement, only two rows of chord buttons could previously be ,used with such converter mechanisms.

The synchronization of the movement of the plurality of levers is also very diflicult, because these levers operate independently. As a result of this, the mechanisms of prior movable convertors frequently get out of adjustment and are also difficult to repair.

Due to the fact that the force required to actuate such disengaging convertors is very noticeable, it has never been possible to provide a single individual mechanism for causing both the disengaging of notes of the chords and the disengaging of octave overtones from the basses.

The present invention permits instead, the production of single notes from a group of notes composing a chord by the single simultaneous displacing movement of all of the actuating slides which are properly shaped, each slide being associated with a single chord button. All of said slides are supported by a single carriage, which can assume two different positions with respect to the upright pins which control the valves that cover the reeds of the bass notes. The two positions provided for the carriage correspond to two different orientations of the plurality of slides with respect to the plurality of upright pins. In one of these positions each slide is in a position that produces in its travel the movement of a plurality of upright pins that actuate the notes provided to form a selected chord, while in the other adjusted position only "atent O one upright pin will be activated, which will emit only a single note.

Because the movement of the carriage requires only a minimum effort, it can be joined to the movement of a secondary convertor that provides the disengaging of the octave overtones from the individual respective bass notes.

Therefore, in an accordion incorporating this invention, when the principal convertor is put into operation and with it the secondary convertor, it is possible to attain the emission of single notes from all of the bass buttons. Consequently, it is possible to accomplish integral musical phrases that consists of scales, arpeggios, and the playing of music written to be performed on a piano.

When this convertor is applied to an accordion which has a base mechanism of the conventional type, including, for example, of two sets of bass notes, one set of major chords, one set of minor chords, one set of seventh chords and one set of diminished chords, to which is added two extra sets of conventional reeds, it is possible to attain, when both movable convertors are shifted into converted positions, two rows of single by notes by fingering the two rows of bass note buttons; two rows of single notes in an octave higher than the bass notes (tenor) derived by fingering the major and minor chord rows of similarly positioned buttons; two rows of single notes in an octave still higher (alto) than the bass note rows derived by fingering the seventh and diminished chord rows of similarly positioned buttons.

In conclusion it is possible to attain single notes in three octaves divided into three groups of two rows each.

The invention provides a slide operatively associated with each bass chord button; each slide is mounted in a predetermined set position on a carriage for transverse movement therewith so that each slide can be activated in response to the depressing of the associated bass chord button in both carriage positions and transverse movement of the carriage and slides is permitted without affecting the operation of the buttons. This transverse movement of the carriage and slides into converted position disengages from the upright pins certain selectedlugs projecting from the sides or towards the internal cavity of each slide while permitting a selected lug to produce movement of one of the upright pins to activate a selected single valve.

The carriage moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the slides which are preferably mounted in stacks of four slides each one on top of another, and the upright pins are positioned in parallel groups of three or four, each group being a predetermined relation to said stacks of slides. In one of the two positions that the carriage can assume, the lugs of each slide are engaged with three or four upright pins in two contiguous groups in a way that on depresing a button, a chord formation of three or four notes is emitted.

In the other position of the carriage, for example, all but one of the lugs of each slide become inoperative with respect to the upright pins in one of the preceding groups and of the remaining groups of the three groups of upright pins associated with the same stack of slides. Therefore, the only lug in use in regard to the movement of the slides produces the emission of only one single note.

Because each stack of four slides is assembled one on top of another, and the slides of each stack are respectively associated with four bass buttons and can actually work in two carriage positions on three consecutive upright pins operating the valves, it follows with the application of this invention that it is possible to eliminate several of the uprght pins which are provided for in a conventional bass mechanism of an accordion, so that for the example indicated above it has only 120 upright pins, instead of the conventional 160 pins.

The attached drawings show an example of a detailed but small portion of an accordion embodying the invention but not limited thereto, and particularly:

Fig. 1 is a top schematic view showing a partical *sec tion of the bass mechanism on the opposite side to that where the read blocks are installed;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing in top plan two stacks of slides with a portion of a third stack also being illustrated and showing the relationship of the lugs and valving actuating pins when the carriage is disposed in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the two stacks of slides illustrated in Fig. 2 but showing the carriage shifted nto converted position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view showing a shiftable carriage, one stack of slides mounted on the carriage with the push buttons and the connections between the slides and the push buttons shown diagrammatically and showing certain selected portions of the valve operating mechanism and shifting mechanism for the secondary convertor;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing in detail the fork connection between the push rods and slides.

The following will show a detailed illustration and description of the only part of an accordion concerned or modified by this present invention.

The bass case 1 of the accordion has two bass buttons 2 and 2a which are exemplary of two rows of 20 buttons each (not illustrated), the buttons of major chords 3, minor 4, seventh 5 and diminished 6 being installed in a conventional position in single rows. In the conventonal bass mechanism there are five sets of conventional reeds two disposed under pad 27 and three disposed under pad 23 and in this invention two auxiliary sets of reeds 8 have been added which are also covered by a valve pad (not shown) in the usual way. The principal convertor consists of, in the illustrated sample accordion, eighty slides 9, divided into 20 stacks or columns, each composed of four slides, one on top of another. The slides of stack or column 11 will be comprised of the slides 912A, 911B, 911C, 9nD, put one on top of another, respectively, at levels A, B, C, D. Each group of four slides one on top of another is mounted on a pair of posts 11a and a given guiding slot 10 cut out in carriage 11, with provision for permitting individual valve actuating movement of each slide 9 in respect to its given seat 10. The carriage 11 can effect shifting of the slides into and out of converted positions in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the valve actuating movements of the slides 9 on the given seat 10.

Each button 3 thru 6 is associated with a slide 9 in a way that depression of each button will produce the valve actuating movement of the associated slide, the connection between the stem 12 of each button, and the slide 9 is, for example, by means of a forked end 12a on stem 12, that permits the free movement of the end of the slide in respect to the associated stem 12, when the carriage 11 is moved, the fork always remaining in an activating position with the slide itself. Each slde 9 is provided with a certain number of lugs 13, projecting outside and inside of the slide.

Indicated by 14, are the upright pins, that activate the levers positioned to elevate the valves that cover the reeds. 141', 14s, 141 indicate three groups of upright pins that are or can come into the movement area of the column 911 of the slides. The lugs 13nA, 1311B, 1312C, 13nD, on the slides in the seat of the carriage 11, when the principal convertor of the chords is not in operation (Figs. 2 and 4), can engage 3 or more upright pins, se-

lected between the two rows 14s and 14!, when a bass button is depressed to actuate the associated slide. For examples the slide 9nA and the lugs 1311A actuate in an inward direction three or more upright pins, which open three or more valves.

When it is desired to put the principal convertor into action, a particular register bar 16 produces, by means of a lever arm L and by suitable mechanical connection (not illustrated), the movement of the carriage 11, and with it the relative movement of every slide 9 and the particular lugs 13 with respect to the plurality of upright pins 14, by which, for example, the column of slides 911, enters into the operating path of the rows of upright pins 14r and 14s, while the row 14: remains in the operating path of next consecutive column 90. In this position the group of lugs 1311 becomes, less one per slide, inoperative, with respect to upright pins Mr and 143. For example, slide 1311A will actuate inwardly only one of the upright pins 14s, so that by depressing a bass button, a single note is emitted (Figs. 3 and 5).

With the normal conventional bass keyboard of the accordion there are more bass buttons than related notes, provided for the emission of the same chord notes, in a way that the musician can utilize the most convenient bass button. When this invention is applied, therefore, there will be a corresponding slide exactly positioned when there are buttons for producing the emission of the same single note or the same chord. The upright pins in this case provided for in certain positions to produce the emission of one single note, will remain in fixed relation to the rod 17 To compensate the minor resistance offered in the depression of the buttons 3 to 6, when the principal movable convertor is predisposed to emit single notes, compared to the resistance offered when the button is depressed to emit a chord. A compensating provision is provided by a plurality of flexible pins 19, of which each is destined to produce a contrasting action on a group of four slides, in combination with a compensating action of one pin of a second plurality of flexible pins 20 always connected with the two pluralities of flexible pins 19 and 20 acting in a way to return after the action is finished each slide 9 moved inward by the depression of the corresponding button, to the initial position.

The pins 19 are interlaced with the pins 20 and are distributed, in a way that they rest on the edges of the slides 9 only in the converted position of the carriage 11 where the slides 9 are positioned to produce the emission of single notes. The pins 20 instead always remain in engaged pressing position on the slide 9 edges, in both positions of the carriage 11. For this reason, when the carriage 11 is in normal chord producing position the pins 197are removed from engagement with the edges of the slides 9, which eliminates the tension of the pins 19 from the slides with the carriage in normal position. Therefore, when the principal movable convertor is disposed to emit a chord, on depressing a button, chosen from the buttons 3 and 6, only one resisting action is produced thereon by a pin 20 while if the movable convertor is disposed to emit only a single note, the minor resistance offered by a single valve is compensated for by the resistance of a pin 19 in addition to the permanent pin 20.

To activate the convertor as described, as has been noted, a register bar 16, which in addition to producing conventional movements of the tonal changes, also produces the movement of the carriage 11 into the position for obtaining the conversion effects aforementioned. In effect, there are two registers and conversion bars 16 cooperating together, in two different positions, in a way that the musician can utilize the bar in the most convenient position, with respect to the given position of the hand at the movement at which the musician wishes to activate the convertor.

The carriage 11 is associated with a safety feature that does not permit its movement, when any of the buttons is depressed. Said safety feature consists of a lug or a locking lever 21, that in the two carriage positions 11, alternately will insert into one of the two slots 22 that are cut out in the carriage, the lug being solidly welded to an arm 23 that is moved when any of the slides 9 is activated by the depressing action of a corresponding button.

In an accordion endowed with this discussed convertor, the structure becomes slightly modified, eliminating one of the longitudinal guides, that in the conventional accordion, supports the stems joined in unison with the bass buttons, stems, that are endowed with pins, for the activation of the upright pins that operate the raising of the valves.

In the accordion improved by the present invention, there is only one guide 24 placed in the front near 1a, in which there are holes for buttons 3 to 6. The stems 12 attached to buttons are much shorter than the regular accordions, so that the stems 12 activate the slides 9 which in turn operate the upright pins 14.

The function of the principal movable convertor disposed in the disengaging position to produce only a single note from a chord, comes about as follows:

The carriage 11 supports the plurality of slides 9; each group of four slides can actuate depending which button is depressed, three or four upright pins 14, selected by lugs 13 of each slide 9, between two adjacent rows, composed in general of four upright pins 14. When the convertor is shifted into converted position the carriage 11 shifts in response to bar 16 moving along with it the plurality of slides 9, by which a column of slides 9 is shifted out of one sphere of action from one row of upright pins 14 and in the other position the column of slides 9 enters into the sphere of action of the adjacent row of pins. In this position the lugs 13 of the slides 9 become inoperative on the upright pins 14 with the exception of one lug per slide, and a single note emission is thus obtained.

The principal movable convertor for the disengagement of selected notes of the chords is connected to a secondary converter or disengager of the octave overtone bass notes from the basses of a conventional accordion. On this secondary converter is incorporated an arm 25 connected to the carriage 11 which carries a series of loops or slotted arms 26. The Fig. 6 puts in evidence the function of the secondary convertor for a single pair of valves, of which 27 is the bass valve and 28 is the valve for controlling the emission of the octave overtones normally produced by basses 2.

Each valve 27 made in a noted manner is connected directly to the rod 29, to which are welded two or more upright pins 3t activated by the buttons 2 or 2a producing the emission of the same single bass note, connected or not to the respective octave overtone valves 28.

Each valve 27 is connected to one of the slotted arms 26 by means of an arm 31, articulated at the point of union at the valve 27 and therefore permits the arms 31 to follow the travel of the respective slotted arm 26.

When the bass mechanism is in normal position as shown in Fig. l, the valve 28 is elevated in unison with the elevation of valve 27, since the bent tip of arm 32 is attached to the valve 23 and is placed over the arm 31 so that when the valve 27 is elevated it picks up with it the arm 32.

When the rod 25 moves together with the carriage 11, slotted arm 26, that imprisons the arm 31, moves and causes the arm 31 to swing away from the arm 32 so that when valve 27 is elevated, and it raises with it, arm 31; this does not operate to raise arm 32 any longer, and said arm 32 remains out of the sphere of action of arm 31; therefore, at the depressure of the corresponding buttons 2 or 2:! only a single note will be played by elevating valve 27. The valve 28, however, can be ac tivated independently from the valve 27 being connected to at least one of the upright pins 14, that could be d activated solely or in combination with other upright pins 14 by way of one of the buttons 3 to 6. The elevation of the valve 28 does not produce by its particular position the elevation of valve 27 so that the two valves can be utilized separately or in combination.

No illustrations have been shown in regard to the registers nor their function, since the invention does'not pertain to any modification thereof.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bass section for an accordion a carriage mounted for back and forth shifting movement relative to the bass section, a plurality of reciprocable members mounted on said carriage for movement thereon in a direction generally normal to the direction of movement of said carriage but held against rotation, a plurality of valve actuating arms mounted in said bass section and operatively associated with the respective reed control valves of said bass section, a plurality of lugs carried by each of said reciprocable members and operatively engaging said arms when said carriage is in normal position, at least certain of said lugs being moved out of operative engagement with said arms when said carriage is shifted out of normal position, and means for controllably shifting said carriage from one position to the other.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the reciprocable members constitute flat sheet like slides with said lugs being integrally formed therewith.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein a plurality of said slides are stacked one above the other to form a plurality of columns of slides on said carriage.

4. A convertor for the bass section of accordions comprising an accordion bass section, a plurality of bass chord buttons mounted in said section, a plurality of slides respectively associated with said bass chord buttons and respectively responsive for movement to actuation thereof, a plurality of lugs carried by each of said slides, a plurality of upright valve operating pins positioned for normal engagement by the respective lugs, a carriage supporting said slides and movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the slides, means associated with said carriage for moving the same with said slides to disengage at least certain of said lugs from their respective valve actuating pins whereby said disengaged lugs become inoperative for actuation of certain of such valves.

5. The structure'set forth in claim 4 and stems connecting said buttons and the ends of said slides, said stems having the end thereof connected to said slides forked to permit transverse sliding movement of the slides relative to said stems.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4 and the slides being arranged in a plurality of columns individually slidable for reciprocation on said carriage.

7. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a plurality of rods respectively connected to said upright pins for connecting said pins to said valves and said pins being divided into a plurality of aligned ro-ws each row being normally associated with a column of slides for actuation by engaged lugs, said columns of slides being shiftable with said carriage to prevent engagement of at least certain of the lugs in each column and certain of said pins.

8. The structure set forth in claim 4 and two sets of resilient slide return mechanisms engaging the ends of said slides remote from said stems for returning said slides, stems and buttons to rest position, one of said slide return mechanisms being disengaged from said slides when the carriage is in normal position.

9. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a stop mechanism operatively connecting said carriage and said bass section Whenever a button is depressed to positively hold the carriage against shifting movement during actuation of any button.

10. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a plurality of bass note buttons, a plurality of octave over-tone valves respectively connected with each of said bass note buttons for normal actuation thereby, a secondary convertor mechanism responsive for actuation to movement of the carriage to disengage said over-tone valves from actuation by said bass note buttons and permit playing of only a single note by said bass note buttons without the normally actuated over-tone notes.

11. The structure set forth in claim 4 and two additional sets of reeds with operating valves controlling the same and actuated only by selected rows of buttons only when the carriage is shifted out of normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,246 Hohner May 9, 1933 2,159,677 Schmidt May 23, 1939 2,798,400 Picchietti July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 310,281 Italy Aug. 7, 1933 357,082 Italy Mar. 1, 1938 493,931- Italy May 12, 1954 

